- Steps to add a nickname on Facebook
- Other names you can add
- Who can see your nickname
- Nickname versus changing your name
- What isn't allowed
- Nicknames in groups and Messenger
- Using a nickname for business
- Adding a nickname on the Facebook app
- Editing or removing a nickname
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To add a nickname on Facebook, go to your profile, then About, then Names, and click Add other names. Choose Nickname as the type, type it in, tick Show at top of profile if you want it beside your full name, and save. Even if you don't tick that box, the nickname still shows in your About section and in search.
Facebook lets you keep your real name as your main name and add a nickname alongside it. It's handy if friends know you by a different name, or if you're known professionally by something shorter. The setting is tucked away in your profile's About section, and there's one privacy detail worth knowing: a nickname is searchable even if you don't show it at the top of your profile.
Steps to add a nickname on Facebook
- Click or tap your profile picture, then your name, to open your profile.
- Go to About, then Names.
- Under Other names, click Add other names.
- Choose Nickname from the Name type list.
- Type your nickname.
- Tick Show at top of profile if you want it next to your full name.
- Click Save.
Other names you can add
Nicknames are only one option. Facebook says you can list other names such as a maiden name, a nickname or a professional name. That's useful if old school friends know you by your maiden name, or if clients know you by the name you trade under. Each name you add helps the right people recognise you when they search.
| Name type | Good for |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The name friends call you |
| Maiden name | Helping old friends find you after marriage |
| Professional name | The name you work or trade under |
Who can see your nickname
This is the detail to know before saving. Facebook says that if you don't tick Show at top of profile, your other name is still visible in the About section of your profile and in search results. So adding a nickname makes you findable by it. If you'd rather people didn't search you by that name, don't add it.
Nickname versus changing your name
Adding a nickname doesn't change your main name. If you want to change your actual Facebook name, that's done in Accounts Center under Profiles, then Name, and Facebook says you can only change your name every 60 days. A nickname has no such limit in the steps Facebook describes, which makes it the easier route if you just want people to see the name you go by, without touching your main name at all.
What isn't allowed
- Titles of any kind, such as professional or religious titles, aren't allowed in name fields.
- Facebook's name rules say names should reflect what you're called in everyday life.
- Don't use a nickname to pretend to be someone else or a brand you don't represent.
Nicknames in groups and Messenger
There are two other kinds of nickname on Meta's apps that people mix up with this one. Facebook has a feature for taking part with a nickname in some groups, which is set inside the group rather than on your profile. And Messenger lets you give people nicknames inside a chat, which only appears in that conversation. Neither changes what's shown on your Facebook profile.
Using a nickname for business
If you're known professionally by a shorter or different name, add it as a professional name or nickname so clients can find you. Tick Show at top of profile if it's the name people search for. Just keep your main name as your real name, since Facebook expects your profile name to be what you're called in everyday life.
Adding a nickname on the Facebook app
The route is the same on a phone. Tap your profile picture to open your profile, find the About or details section, then look for Names and the option to add other names. Pick Nickname, type it, decide whether to show it at the top of your profile, and save. If you can't find Names, update the app, since menus move around between versions, or make the change on a computer where the About section is easier to reach.
Editing or removing a nickname
Go back to About, then Names, find the nickname under Other names, and edit or delete it. If you change your mind about showing it at the top of your profile, untick the box and save, though it'll still appear in About and search while it's listed.
While you're tidying your profile, see my guides to changing your relationship status on Facebook and what follow means on Facebook.
My verdict
Add your nickname under About, Names, Add other names, and tick Show at top of profile if you want people to see it straight away. Remember it's searchable either way. If you need to change your actual name, use Accounts Center instead, and don't do it often, because Facebook only allows a change every 60 days.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I add a nickname on Facebook?
Go to your profile, About, Names, Add other names, choose Nickname, enter it and save.
How do I show my nickname next to my name on Facebook?
Tick Show at top of profile when you add it, then save.
Can people search my Facebook nickname?
Yes. Facebook says other names are visible in your About section and in search results.
Does adding a nickname change my Facebook name?
No. It adds another name alongside your main name.
How often can I change my Facebook name?
Facebook says you can change your main name every 60 days.
Can I add more than one other name on Facebook?
Facebook lets you add other names such as a nickname, maiden name or professional name, each as its own entry.
How do I remove a nickname from Facebook?
Go to About, then Names, find it under Other names, and delete it.
Can I use a title as a Facebook nickname?
No. Facebook doesn't allow titles of any kind in name fields.
